Turkey pledges political, expert support to Montenegro’s EU, NATO integration

Published date: 11.01.2012 11:35 | Author: PR Bureau

Print

Podgorica, Montenegro (11 January 2011) – Turkey fully supports Montenegro’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts and will provide in that respect its political and expert assistance, Turkish Minister for European Affairs and Chief EU Negotiatior Egemen Bağış told Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković at their meeting yesterday in Villa “Gorica”.

DPM Marković underlined that the two states are not just political partners, but also friends and he discussed Montenegro’s activities in EU and NATO integration. The two officials agreed that Turkey as an EU candidate could help Montenegro by sharing its best practices, especially in the area of using the EU’s pre-accession funds.

Minister Bağış informed DPM Marković of Turkey’s economic policy, paying special attention to the area of tourism, a great asset of both countries. He underlined that Montenegro’s progress benefits the entire region and also Turkey.

In his meeting later in the day with Foreign Affairs and EU Integration Minister Milan Roćen, Minister Bağış said that Montenegro and Turkey share a common path of EU integration, and reiterated his Government’s pledge to assist Montenegro in EU and NATO integration efforts. They also agreed to sign soon the agreement that will serve as a legal basis for this cooperation.